Lifeguards made 581 rescues at beaches between Ahipara in the Far North and Raglan in the Waikato this summer.

COMMENT: The Government is right now in the process of passing the Building (Pools) Amendment Act, writes Julie Chambers.

Environment Minister Nick Smith says he will not commit to making every single waterway in NZ "swimmable" because it would be too complex and costly.

Just days after New Zealand's longest river failed a major health check, a grassroots group is petitioning Parliament demanding action.

Tony Bedford was at a Coromandel beach on Valentine's Day when he saw someone in trouble in the water.

Police are warning divers to exercise extreme caution following the eighth fatal dive accident since Christmas.

The proposed weakening of swimming pool fencing law is a "reckless" experiment which will lead to an increase in toddler drownings, say specialists.

Emergency services were called to the incident at Akitio, north of Masterton and east of Palmerston North, about 5pm.

A retired couple were nearly swept out to sea when a rogue wave hit the coastline at Porsguen beach in Portsal, France.

The family of a 5-year-old girl would like to find and thank the man who saved their daughter from drowning at Mission Bay.

Police have confirmed they have spoken with a 17-year-old man in relation to a jumping accident yesterday and have cleared him of any criminal wrongdoing.

Water safety experts are begging young men to stop overestimating their abilities or underestimating conditions after a deadly day on New Zealand's waters.

Witnesses report a body has been found off the Beach Haven wharf.

The seriously injured man was taken to Middlemore Hospital for treatment.

He was Lino Costy Hellesoe, 53, from Red Beach in Auckland.

Heatwaves can bring more than just discomfort. Here are the risks identified and how to beat them.

A Hamilton father has spoken of the choice he had to make when he discovered two people struggling at Hot Water Beach.

A group of off-duty junior lifeguards rescued three adults caught in a rip at Hot Water Beach. A fourth man died after being pulled in.

The Mt Maunganui teenager who drowned after being swept off rocks had just finished his shift as a surf lifeguard.

Schools are turning to fundraising website Givealittle to help keep pools open and Water Safety NZ is concerned about the effect on drowning rates if pools are allowed to close.

A young Auckland man got caught up in a rip and was dragged 20m out to sea.

Two teenage girls had to be rescued from the Manukau Harbour after drifting 1.5km off-shore on an inflatable swan.

A candlelight vigil has been held at Castlecliff Beach for teenager Jordan James Marshall who drowned there on Christmas Day.

Tamahou Wanoa's whanau have been left wondering what went wrong after he drowned while freediving for kaimoana off the East Cape yesterday.

Lifesavers are urging caution after the drowning toll for the year passed 100 yesterday. Here are some safety tips.

The 12-year-old boy who died in a boating accident will leave 'a bloody huge hole in the family' his father says.

There has been a call to ban motorboats in Blue Lake following the death of a 12-year-old boy

The off-duty police constable was with her partner and their children when she spotted a hand in the air in the ocean frantically waving for help.

Cory Edgecombe Lilley was swept away while swimming at Raglan on Thursday. His family are still holding out hope of finding him.

Two heroes jumped into a swollen North Island river to save the life of a woman swept away.